Idle,throttle problems

[ben_the_snake]

Hello, new here, but figured i would give this a try as i saw vacuum lines and not starting in the thread...

1986 Honda accord with PGMFI, never had issues until about 4 years ago, and was a seasonal car (summer and fall). First issue was similar to crank no start. The car cranked, fired for a split second, then died. This occurs when the engine is cold. Saw code 9 on the ECU at one point a year or two ago, nothing since.

(2 years ago) Once the engine warms up and sputters to life, it idled fine and revved normal, but still took over 10 minutes of what seemed like misfiring to clear up. After it did clear up and get to operating temperature, there were no issues. Car would restart normally when warm.

Last year, it was doing all of the above, but started throwing the red PGMFI light on the dash and running like garbage on 15 minute drives, intermittently.

This year (2023), it took a while to start and idle, idles fine when temps are at normal, but throttle seems to be sticking. The car will also want to stall immediately on any medium application of the gas pedal. Smooth RPM increases show no issues, just sudden stabs at the gas pedal.


Really dont know what the issue is. Vacuum lines? New spark plugs? New injectors? Bad wiring somewhere? Removing the old gas helped, im thinking maybe clogged injector or sensor somewhere?

Help is needed!

Thanks!

[conozo]

Code 9 is crank angle sensor malfunction. Doubt its bad, probably a wiring issue or dirty connection.

I would check all the wiring to make sure none of it has been chewed by rodents or broken from age.

What are the current PGMFI codes?

I would just start inspecting things. Listen to your injectors, are they clicking. Take your spark plugs out and look at them, are they adjusted correctly. Clean off the contact points on the distributor cap, spark plug wires ok. Check all the wiring in the engine bay. Air filter clean, no nest in the air intake? Clean the throttle body if the throttle is sticking. Is your coolant level ok, air bled out of the system?

Use the factory honda shop manual, read the PGMFI section. Since the engine runs its probably something little.

[ben_the_snake]

Thanks for the suggestions, and yea I saw that code 9 was crank angle. Would bad wiring to that cause the issue? Where are the wires to that sensor? (I dont have a shop manual, do you have any ideas where i could get a PDF or something? Is there one online?)

A quick glance through the engine bay shows no significant damage to the wiring. I will take a closer look. It was garage kept since 2014.

The only code i saw (deciphered by reading the blinks under the drivers seat) was a code 9 (this was 2 years ago when i first noticed the issue). The PGMFI dash light was on and off randomly from time to time too, but hasn't gone on since the last short drive i got it on last year when it started to misfire randomly again. Its also popped up when the car seemingly was running fine too. No new codes on the ECU since 2 summers ago.

All injectors are clicking (although 2 of them seem to be pulsing pretty weak and i cant tell if its just a bit of engine vibration or the injector). Spark plugs looked fine a year ago, i inspected them first after discovering the issue. I will have to look up how to clean the contact points on the distributor, im not sure how to go about that. All spark plug wires are okay. Air filter is clean, ill get some wd40 for the sticky cable, and the cooling system seems to be functioning correctly.

Thanks again for the help, the new guys at my local honda only work on 2015 and newer stuff, and have minimal knowledge when it comes to our older gems.

Ben

[Oldblueaccord]

I made you your own thread.

manual link should be here:

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...AL-(-UPDATED-)

If your cars sits I suspect its mostly bad gas. You can drain it every year there is a plug at the bottom on most Honda gas tanks.

Efi codes:

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...-to-check-them

[RI86DX]

Thanks again for the help, the new guys at my local honda only work on 2015 and newer stuff, and have minimal knowledge when it comes to our older gems.

Yeah with anything pre OBDII/BCM/CANBUS you either work on it yourself or find the absolute oldest guys around to. Guys who call themselves mechanics, not "technicians". Techs will do anything in the book to get you to junk a car this old.

[Oldblueaccord]

Thanks for the suggestions, and yea I saw that code 9 was crank angle. Would bad wiring to that cause the issue? Where are the wires to that sensor? (I dont have a shop manual, do you have any ideas where i could get a PDF or something? Is there one online?)

A quick glance through the engine bay shows no significant damage to the wiring. I will take a closer look. It was garage kept since 2014.

The only code i saw (deciphered by reading the blinks under the drivers seat) was a code 9 (this was 2 years ago when i first noticed the issue). The PGMFI dash light was on and off randomly from time to time too, but hasn't gone on since the last short drive i got it on last year when it started to misfire randomly again. Its also popped up when the car seemingly was running fine too. No new codes on the ECU since 2 summers ago.

All injectors are clicking (although 2 of them seem to be pulsing pretty weak and i cant tell if its just a bit of engine vibration or the injector). Spark plugs looked fine a year ago, i inspected them first after discovering the issue. I will have to look up how to clean the contact points on the distributor, im not sure how to go about that. All spark plug wires are okay. Air filter is clean, ill get some wd40 for the sticky cable, and the cooling system seems to be functioning correctly.

Thanks again for the help, the new guys at my local honda only work on 2015 and newer stuff, and have minimal knowledge when it comes to our older gems.

Ben

[ben_the_snake]

Thanks for the link, i was actually able to find a shop manual and just got on to check replies today, thanks anyway!

I've drained the tank and there is definitely 90% new (about a year old) gas in it now, it was filled last year about this time.

[ben_the_snake]

Yeah with anything pre OBDII/BCM/CANBUS you either work on it yourself or find the absolute oldest guys around to. Guys who call themselves mechanics, not "technicians". Techs will do anything in the book to get you to junk a car this old.

Couldn't agree more lol. My old mechanic was a family friend and worked on it right up till it sat 3 years ago. Gotta try and get in contact with him, but he's living off-grid now.

[ben_the_snake]

Thanks for the link, i was actually able to find a shop manual and just got on to check replies today, thanks anyway!

I've drained the tank and there is definitely 90% new (about a year old) gas in it now, it was filled last year about this time.

And thanks for the video! I will investigate all of the previous things you noted and take a look at the vid when i get some free time later this month.

[ben_the_snake]

I made you your own thread.

manual link should be here:

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...AL-(-UPDATED-)

If your cars sits I suspect its mostly bad gas. You can drain it every year there is a plug at the bottom on most Honda gas tanks.

Efi codes:

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...-to-check-them

Hmmm okay, new problem. I had suspected it might have been the fuel pump, because it kept trying to stall when given any gas (while driving last year, and while at idle). I turn the key today and no fuel pump sound.

Other than a dead fuel pump (which i think is what it is), what else may be the problem? And how challenging is that to replace?

Ben

[ben_the_snake]

Hmmm okay, new problem. I had suspected it might have been the fuel pump, because it kept trying to stall when given any gas (while driving last year, and while at idle). I turn the key today and no fuel pump sound.

Other than a dead fuel pump (which i think is what it is), what else may be the problem? And how challenging is that to replace?

Ben

I also checked the fuel pump relay when I was first having issues a year ago or so, and it looked fine but I think I will go check this first. Upon a bit of testing, i am not hearing any click from the relay at all. I want to swap relays with a good one to eliminate this as the issue entirely, or part of the issue. Im finding fuel pump relays' with the model number RZ0088 saying they're interchangeable with the stock number, which is RZ0028. Can someone confirm this? Id like to just buy and test from amazon, but they only have the RZ0088 and i dont wanna fry somethin.

Ben